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The Astor Place cube is back
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Jul 18, 2023
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Ramsey Khalifeh
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Jul 18, 2023
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The world keeps on spinning, and so does the cube in Astor Place.
After it was removed for repairs in May, the East Village public art sculpture is back in place in all its spinning glory, thanks to new technical improvements.
The cube, which is officially called “Alamo,” was first installed in 1967. It was sculpted by artist Tony Rosenthal and built as part of the “Sculpture and Environment” exhibition by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs. Each side of the cube is 8 feet long and the sculpture stands around 15 feet tall.
The cube was one of 27 sculptures that were originally planned to be on display for six months. However, after neighborhood petitions, it became a permanent fixture in November 1967.
“Some art students execute graffiti on it; some young fry just scribble on it,” the New York Times reported in 1967. “Older people pat it in a friendly way and occasionally wipe it clean.”
Millions have spun, seen and touched the cube, which is beloved for its design and public accessibility. It was last restored in 2005.
Officials constructed brackets to keep the cube in place in 2021 after noticing that the sculpture had undergone severe wear and tear, but it remained in its home until May.
A woman helps push the cube. In the foreground, Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez talks to Dave Petrie, the director of the estate of Tony Rosenthal.
Ramsey Khalifeh
“The Alamo cube, which has spun in this space dating back to 1967, is a true icon,” said Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, whose office oversees the cube. “Visitors want to come here to spin, to take a photo of this great sculpture.”
According to Siebren Vertseeg, co-CEO of Versteeg Art Fabricators, the group behind the cube restoration, the spinning mechanism is made of Teflon and was updated with a self-lubricating plastic that is more accessible for repairs.
Versteeg predicts that the mechanism can be easily replaced every three to five years without severe disruptions to the public, to ensure the cube can continue spinning in the long term.
At a press conference held on Tuesday to unveil the newly restored sculpture, local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera called the cube a New York City icon.
“It is truly like our Leaning Tower of Pisa,” Rivera said. “Its attraction almost happened by accident, but it is lasting.”
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Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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